Frame structure system

ABSTRACT

A frame structure system having a plurality of spaced parallel perimeter beams of U-channel configuration and including cross members extending into the perimeter beams between the upper and lower flanges and being rigidly secured to the beams to form a rigid structure. The cross members may be of a C-channel configuration and may be of substantially the same height as the perimeter beams, or be of a lesser height, and secured to said beams with the upper surface thereof on substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the beams. Fixtures are secured to said ends of said cross members and are preferably secured to the beams by riveting.

4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. 14, 1973 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14, 19733,751,870

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. LASZLO M6 vase! ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 14,1973 4 Sheets-Shoet MR R 1. Mn N E 0 on m w @l M BY k a ATTORNEYSPatented Aug. 14, 19 73 3, 751,870

4 Sheets-Sheet i FIG. 9

huf f GET L a. INVENTOR. LASZLO M. VESEI BY 7, 1% 2 m ATTORNEYS FRAMESTRUCTURE SYSTEM In the construction of steel floor frames for mobilehomes, modular homes and similar building structures, the perimeterbeams are usually of tubular shape, I shape or C-shape in crosssectional configuration, and the joists and other cross members arewelded to the beams, thus forming a rigid structure which can betransported in one piece from the fabricating plant to the mobile ormodular home builder. In some fabricating practices, the beams, joists,and other cross members are cut to size and are shipped unassembled tothe home builder where welders assemble and secure the frame memberstogether. Each of these two procedures required skilled and experiencedwelders and their equipment to assemble the frame members to form thefinal rigid structure. Other methods of assembling the frame members,such as riveting and bolting, have been time consuming, expensive orotherwise impractical from a commercial point of view. Further, many ofthe frame members of the prior structures have required special designand construction and special fittings to incorporate them in thestructure during fabrication, thereby again increasing the cost, andrequiring skilled workmen to perform the special cutting and assemblingoperations, and often necessitating the use of special jigs andfixtures. It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of the presentinvention to provide a frame structure system for mobile homes, modularhomes and similar building structures, which is constructed ofpremeasured and cut perimeter beams and joists and cross members,secured together by mechanical means to form a rigid frame structure,and which includes standard structural members which can be utilizedwithout substantial change in the design of the members, to form avariety of different final structural designs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floor system which canbe rapidly assembled on site or in a factory by unskilled workmen andwithout the aid of any special or expensive tools, and which utilizespredrilled or pre-punched holes for riveting the members together, andcase hardened nails to secure the flooring and subflooring to unpunchedor undrilled steel members.

Still another object is to provide a frame structure system of theaforesaid type which utilizes U-shaped perimeter beams in combinationwith either U-shape, C-shape or truss constructed joists and other crossmembers, and which can be installed on pier supports or on continuousfoundation walls.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view of one embodiment of thepresent frame structure, illustrating the manner in which the structuralmembers are assembled and connected to one another and attached to acontinuous foundation;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating the manner in which the frame structuresystem is' assembled and incorporated into a building structure;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the framestructure system in FIG. 1, illustrating the manner in which thestructure is assembled;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment of the framestructure system in FIG. 2, illustrating the manner in which the membersare assembled and secured to one another;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational and cross sectional views of a fabricatedC-shaped joist or other cross member;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view ofa mobile home frame, illustrating a furtherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, cross sectional view of the frame structureshown in FIG. 7, the section being taken on line 8-8 of the latterfigure;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view of the framestructure shown in FIG. 7, the section being taken on line 9-9 of thelatter figure; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are end and side elevational views of a suitable blinddriven rivet used with the present structure.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1, numeral 10indicates generally one embodiment of the present frame structure systemfor a first floor frame structure of a modular home construction,showing it mounted on a continuous concrete foundation 12, and securedthereto by a plurality of bolts 14. The frame structure system of FIG. 1includes a perimeter beam 20 of a steel U-shaped channel shown sittingflat on the upper surface of the concrete foundation 12. The beam hasupper and lower inwardly extending flanges 21a and 21b. Thecorresponding perimeter beam is normally provided on the opposite sideof the building structure and at the two ends thereof. Since thestructure on the opposite side is the same as the one shown, thestructure on the opposite side is not shown in the drawings. Crossmembers orjoists 22 connect the two perimeter beams and are of steelC-channel members. Since the joists or cross members are of a lesserheight than the perimeter beams, a fixture or bracket 24 is rigidlyjoined to and forms a part of the cross beam or joist structure. Thefixtures are metal members welded or otherwise rigidly secured to theopposite ends of the joist and have a leg 25 giving the fixture agenerally L-shaped configuration when viewed from the side. Thesefixtures are secured to the perimeter beams by rivets extending throughholes 26 in the vertical side of each perimeter beam and through holes28 in the corresponding end of fixture 24. While the structure isprimarily constructed using cross member 22, modified cross members 30may be used in special locations to obtain the desired final structuraldesign or to give added strength and reinforcement to particular placesalong the building structure. Cross member 30 utilizes fixture 24 toconnect it to the perimeter beam and utilizes a U-shaped channel 32 toconnect it to a second cross beam 31, the latter likewise having afixture 24 for connection with end perimeter beam 20'. Fixture 24reinforces the web portion of the perimeter beams, minimizing crushing,and also reinforces the cross members, thereby preventing twisting. Asecond cross member 30 is shown in FIG. 3, having fixture 32 joined to aspacer 36, which in turn is connected to cross member 31 by rivets 37.Holes 38 are provided a in fixture 32 for receiving rivets 37 and holes39 are provided in spacer 36 for connecting the spacer to the crossbeam. The members of the frame structure, as shown in FIG. 3, may beused in a variety of different ways to obtain the desired structuralconfigurations in the frame structure.

After the frame structure has been assembled in the manner suggested inFIG. 3 and illustrated in FIG. 1, a floor or subflooring 40 is securedto the upper surface of the perimeter beams and cross members by drivingcase hardened nails 42 through the flooring, which is preferablyplywood, and into the upper flange of the U-channel beam and C-channelmembers. A plate 44 is then secured to the flooring and perimeter beams,and studding 46 secured to the plate extends upwardly therefrom to formthe wall structure.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4,U-shaped perimeter beams 20 on opposite sides are connected by C-shapedcross members 52 similar to the cross members 30 and 31, but ofsubstantially the same height as the perimeter beams. Fixtures 32 arewelded into the ends of the C- channel members and contain a pluralityof holes 38 for receiving rivets extending through holes 54 in theperimeter beams. While the perimeter beams are often of sufficientlength to extend the full length of the building structure, ajoint maybe formed to extend the perimeter beams by using a fixture 56 of aC-shaped structure having a plurality of holes 58 for rivets extendingthrough matching holes in the adjoining ends of the two perimeter beams.The side and end perimeter beams 20 and 20' are connected by fixture 57and secured thereto by rivets extending through holes 58 in the twoperimeter beams and through holes 59 in fixture 57.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the structure formsa second floor and is supported by studding 46 and a plate 60. Dry wallceiling or ceiling panel is shown secured to furring strips 64, and aroof strip consisting ofjoist 66 and sheeting 68 is secured to the upperside of frame structure perimeter beam 20 and cross members 52. In bothof the embodiments previously described herein, a fabricated trussstructure may be used for the joists or other cross members, the oneshown having upper and lower longitudinal members 70 and 72 of a panshaped configuration, rigidly connected by vertically positioned spacedmembers 76. The flange 74 on member 72 may be utilized to supportinsulating board in the crawl space, or ceiling tile in homes having abasement.

While various types of rivets 37 may be used in connecting thestructural members, the preferred type is a drive rivet, such as thatshown in FIGS. and 11 consisting of a head, a shank with intersectingslits or slots 77 on the end opposite the head, and a center bore 78with a drive pin 79 therein for spreading the ends of the shank when thepin is driven inwardly from the head end of the rivet. This type ofrivet permits connection of the structural members from one side, usingmerely a conventional claw or ball hammer used on the head side of therivet. However, other types of securing means such as machine bolts,self-tapping screws and conventional rivets may be used. The perimeterbeams may be placed with the flanges of one facing toward the other beamor facing in the opposite direction away from the other beam, or theflanges on the two beams may face in the same direction. The foregoingrivets may be used in any one of these beam arrangements.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 utilize broadly the present concept for a mobile homeframe, consisting of longitudinal beams 80 and 82 of a U-channelstructure connected by a plurality of spaced cross members 84. The crossmember 84 consists of a fabricated structure having an upper channelmember 86, and a lower channel member 88 connected by members 90 to forma truss-like structure. The ends of the upper and lower elements extendbetween the upper and lower flanges 92 and 94 of the longitudinal beamsand are secured thereto by rivets or welding. A plurality of spacedoutriggers 96 are joined to the external surface of the two longitudinal beams 80 and 82, preferably be welding. The longitudinal beams ofthe frame structure over the undercarriage are reinforced byinterlocking U-shaped channel 100 welded or otherwise joined to thelongitudinal beams. The reinforced structure is illustrated in FIG. 9and, in this location of the frame structure, the cross members arewelded at their ends to the inner reinforcing member 100. The framestructure is rigid and is sufficiently strong to support the mobile homewalls and roof without substantial downward deflection after the framehas been mounted on an undercarriage. A tongue consists of members 102and 104 joined to the respective longitudinal members 80 and 82 and atthe outer ends to each other, to form a tongue-like structure forconnection to a towing vehicle.

The manner in which the various structural elements and members of thepresent frame structure system are assembled and joined to one anotherhave been described in detail herein. The members and the structure lendthemselves to a variety of different types of buildings and may bemodified or changed in various respects to satisfy structuralrequirements without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A frame structure system for modular homes, mobile homes and similarbuilding structures, comprising a plurality of spaced parallel perimeterbeams of U- channel configuration having a web and upper and lowerflanges thereon, cross members of lesser height than said perimeterbeams connecting said perimeter beams and having laterally extendingflanges, said members being disposed above said lower flanges on saidperimeter beams, a fixture secured to each end of said cross members andhaving a vertical element substantially the same height as said web forseating against the surface of said web between said flanges, saidfixtures including a portion extending downwardly from the underside ofsaid cross members to hold the cross members on substantially the sameplane as the upper surface of said beams, and means extending throughsaid web and fixture between said laterally extending flanges near thecenter line thereof rigidly connecting said cross members to the web ofsaid beams.

2. A frame structure system for modular homes, mobile homes and similarbuilding structures, comprising a plurality of spaced parallel perimeterbeams of U- channel configuration having a web and upper and lowerflanges thereon, cross members connecting said perimeter beams andhaving laterally extending flanges, the flanges of each of said beamsfacing the other of said beams and said cross member extending into theU-shape configuration of each beam between said flanges, a fixture ofU-shaped configuration secured to each end of said cross members withthe flanges thereof in the ends of the cross members and having avertical element substantially the same height as said web for seatingagainst the surface of said web between said flanges, and a driven typerivet extending through holes in said web and through said fixturesbetween said laterally extending flanges near the center line thereofrigidly connecting said cross members to a re connected to the externalsurface of the perimeter the web of said beams. beams and extendoutwardly therefrom in spaced rela- 3. A frame structure system asdefined in claim 2 in tion to one another.

which outriggers of a generally triangular configuration

1. A frame structure system for modular homes, mobile homes and similarbuilding structures, comprising a plurality of spaced parallel perimeterbeams of U-channel configuration having a web and upper and lowerflanges thereon, cross members of lesser height than said perimeterbeams connecting said perimeter beams and having laterally extendingflanges, said members being disposed above said lower flanges on saidperimeter beams, a fixture secured to each end of said cross members andhaving a vertical element substantially the same height as said web forseating against the surface of said web between said flanges, saidfixtures including a portion extending downwardly from the underside ofsaid cross members to hold the cross members on substantially the sameplane as the upper surface of said beams, and means extending throughsaid web and fixture between said laterally extending flanges near thecenter line thereof rigidly connecting said cross members to the web ofsaid beams.
 2. A frame structure system for modular homes, mobile homesand similar building structures, comprising a plurality of spacedparallel perimeter beams of U-channel configuration having a web andupper and lower flanges thereon, cross members connecting said perimeterbeams and having laterally extending flanges, the flanges of each ofsaid beams facing the other of said beams and said cross memberextending into the U-shape configuration of each beam between saidflanges, a fixture of U-shaped configuration secured to each end of saidcross members with the flanges thereof in the ends of the cross membersand having a vertical element substantially the same height as said webfor seating against the surface of said web between said flanges, and adriven type rivet extending through holes in said web and through saidfixtures between said laterally extending flanges near the center linethereof rigidly connecting said cross members to the web of said beams.3. A frame structure system as defined in claim 2 in which outriggers ofa generally triangular configuration are connected to the externalsurface of the perimeter beams and extend outwardly therefrom in spacedrelation to one another.